Bristol voluntary scheme to help gardeners find a garden

A volunteer group is looking for people with gardening space to help those with green-fingered ambitions.

GardenShare Bristol aims to match people who would like to grow plants and vegetables but don't have the space, with those who lack the time, ability or motivation to use their gardens.

Like a dating service, the group matches gardeners with garden owners in Bristol, based on compatibility and local proximity.

GardenShare volunteers interview and vet the people who want to take part, and make sure that the gardens meet certain criteria – for instance, having suitable growing soil and access without going through the house.

To make sure that there are no misunderstandings, both parties will be asked to sign an agreement that defines what they expect of one another.

This would agree hours of access, whether tools may be stored on-site, what proportion of the produce will be given by the gardener to the garden owner, and so on.

But each agreement is between that gardener and that garden owner, so they can change the wording to say whatever they agree between them.

Similar projects are taking place across the country including Brighton, Bath, and Totnes, and tend to attract people living in flats, town houses and rented accommodation, who have no access to a garden but who would love to grow their own.

Organisers say the benefits for the garden owners include a share of the produce, the pleasure of seeing a developing vegetable plot, and the sense of community in being part of a sharing initiative.

Abbi Gutierrez, a 27-year-old GardenShare volunteer from Ashton, said: "Perhaps there are elderly people or people with young kids who don't have the time or ability to look after their garden, but who like to see things grow.

"This initiative will help communities in Bristol to grow more healthy, fresh food locally."

To get involved call 07770 391521.